Automatic train pipe coupling



Dec. 6, 1932. BALDWIN 1,890,356

AUTOMATIlG TRAIN PIPE COUPLING Original F ilad May 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR a; away 4/ZZM all: M'

ATTORNEY 3 Dec. 6, 1932. G, E, BALDWlN 1,390,356

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING Original Filed May 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATToRNl-m Patented Dec. 6,

tsetse seiinwinjontiiaa, onto, Assisivon v New OB-K,'N.

' iueor-mmi im me COUPLING roaosni ii noisi nsoin or 1 f i i Application filedflhay 29, 1929, SerialNo. 366,789. Renewed 'anuaryfgl 1931.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic train pipe couplings and has among its objects to provide an improved universal support for such couplings, and an improved means for removing a defective gasket from between the faces of mated coupling heads CHIS. I v,With these objects inview, my invention resides in the combinations, arrangements, and Constructions hereinafter described, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhi'ch ,Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved coupling. In this view the fitting or conduit is shown insectiontalren on the line 1 '1 ofFigureQ;

Figure 2 is a horizontal --sectional view of the'constructio'n illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the lower endof the br'aclretB;

Figure i is a sectional planview of the universal ioint of iny-improvement takenon the of which opening are line 41 of Figure 1; a

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view of thejrear end of the pipe or sleeve 16, and of the rod-28, showing a modification of the means for adj ustably securing thefrodin the sleeve; and 5 Figure 6 is a rear elevationof the construction shown in Figure 5. taken on the line 66 of such figure. a ,r 5 I uReferring now to the drawings: Any desiredtype of coupling head A maybe used with my improvement. I' show a: conven: tional form having suitable guiding Wings 7 and: 8 to align the head withan opposing head. {The head is provided with a hollow shank 9,;preferahly U-sha'ped inc'ross section, which may be cast integrally with the head or otherwisesuitably secured thereto. Central- 7 1y located in the coupling face ofthe head, I.

provide a suitable opening through thelatter into which the enlarged forward end of afitting or. tubular conduit 10 extends, as shown particularlyin Figure 2. The conduit ex tends laterally of the head, at the rear sideof the latter, andis connected in a suitable man-- ner, preferably as shown, tothe usual'train pipe hose 11. At its forward end thecond nt carries a suitablegasket 12 which extends without first disconnecting-the heads or the' slightly inadvance of; theicoupling face of the headA and is adapted to make'a butting; joint with the siinilarfgasket of an "opposing head; j nt-its rear an annular seat-1301a which is seated thel-forward end of a suitable coiled buffer; spring l l located between the coupling head A and the bracket B',the shank .19 beingprovided witha which the spring abuts.- in alignment with the openingin the flange or shoulder 15 against head A, the-shank 9-is, provided with an in endthe hannen provided, with teriorly threaded perforation into'fwhioh the,

forward end of a sleeve oripipe 16 is tightly screwed, the fit between the-threaded parts being sufiiciently tight to prevent thecoupling' head A turning'on the sleeve 16.

' My improved coupling is suitably attached to the usual coupler forked bracket l3 which spans the lug and which is attache thereto by meaiis of 18. The lower end with an opening I 7 "bolts of the bracket is provided therethrough the rear walls I flared rearwardly and voutwardly, and the forward walls of which spring seat or block 20, having apart spheriform apart spherical bearing-l9, Upon this 1 bearing is rockingly mounted perforated cal face complementary to the seat 19 and mounted therein, and having also an annular bearing '21 which supports the rear endof the buffer spring 14L. It will be 'observed,-espe ciallyin Figure 2, that the pipe l6 extends through tlielower end of the bracket from the rear of the'lattenand forwardly throughtthe perforation "in the seat. 20, and throughthe spring 14, into threaded engagement, as aforesaid, with the rear endof the shank 9'of the coupling head A, the seat 20 being'provided'with bearings 22 and 23 to slidingly support the pipe. Suitable radially extending-projeetions areformed ii'ite'gral with, or

otherwise (provided on, the jrear end of "the pipe'to engage the rear sideof the bracket B and limit the forward movement of the coupling head PA with respect tothe bracket. Two of these projections, numbers 24 and25, lie in the horizontal plane and the third, number- 26, lies substantially the vertical plane, To'prevent the-coupling head rotating undulywhen in the normal'uncoupled position rearwardly extending outwardly flaring prongs or guides 27 disposed preferably in the horizontal plane, as. shown'especiallyin I Figure The tension of the buffer spring lt'holds the projection or lug 26 firmly seated against thebra'cket between these prongs, thus preventing rotation of the head. l Vhen opposing heads couple up, in service, the

buffer spring 14 is compressed, thus pushing the pipelt i and the projections 24, and26 rearwardly out of engagement with the bracket, whereupon the coupling head A'may rotate universally through the universal-joint formed by the spring seat 2G and; the part sphericalfbearing 19. ;Asthebuffor spring 141; pushes i th ehead A, forward to a normal uncoupledposition,vas when a pair ofthe au tomatic couplings uncouple, the projection 26 moves along theinner edge of the prongs '2'? and brings-thehead to the proper verticalposition. V

To maintain-the'fitting or conduit 10 irfpo gasket with my improvement, the rod '28 is sition, and to permit removal thereof and "of the gasket '12 from the couplh1g .head A and;

the shank fi whilemated coupling heads reingly connected near its rear end to the same. The extreme rearend of the-rod extends laterallyof the pipe lfi, and threadingly receives aflball 31- which constitutes gravity act uated means for maintaining the rod 28 in the service position. ,'The ball is; screwedonto' 4 the rod by a suitable tool passed into the square opening 82in theball.

When it is desired'to remove a defective screwed rearwardly through the medium of the handle or ball'31, sufficiently to permit the fitting-'10 to be drawn out of the opening 1-11 the couplinghead Agand out of the hollow shank. 9, whereuponythe defective gasket 12 1 maybe removed, a new one inserted and. the parts reassembled by reversing this operation. A sultable pin 33 passes through the forward 7 end of the rod 28 toprevent undesired rear movement, or extraction of the rod from the pipeorsleeve' ltl. r

v The parts of-my improvement are assem- "bled by setting the spring {seat or block '20 7 into? itsbearing 19 on the forward 'face' of the bracket B,-mounting thebuffer spring l l thereon, and'passing the'sleeve 16 through the 'bracket, theseat 20, and the spring 14,

and tightly screwing it into the threaded perforation of the shank 9'by rotating the coupling-:hea-d A; During this operation the sleeve is held against rotation by contact of I provide the' bracketB witha pair of,

the projection26 with the prongs 2?, a hexagfonal nut 34 being'provide'd on the rear end of the pipe to facilitate further holdingof be understood that the bufier spring 14 is placed under the required initial compression the latter against rotation if desired. It will v bysorewing the head A onto its sleeve16 as aforesaid, the threaded connection between ventundesired rotation of the head on the sleeve, and the lnitial compression toflwhich the bufiier spring 14' issubjectedbeing suflicient to yieldingly sustain the coupling head these parts'jbeing-sufliciently rigid as to pre- 7 A in the normal horizontal coupling position 7 with the projections 24;, 25 and 26 bearing against the rear side of thebracket B, as

movement ofthe'hea'd. l I V It will be observed that my improved gas -ketrenewing means is particularly adapted for use with train pipe couplings oftheltype shown, inwhich the bufi'e'rspring l lis'locatshown inFigur-e 1,andilimiting theiforward ed in front of the bracket B and has universal V movement either on or relative to the front 'face-thereof.,- The rod or abutment 2'8 m-a-y" ,7 be said to l constitute -adjustable 3 means I operating about an axiscoincident to theaxis of the opening in the head A to removablyf maintain the conduit 10in place, such m'eans' beingop'erated from'a point at-therear of the universal joint-formed by the block 20 and the bearing 19 of the bracket. The-flared so i opening 293011 therear side of theconduit, and a l i the complementarily flared forward i end 2-29 of the rod 28, comprise means for positioning the conduit, or aligning it,'withthe opening in the coupling head'A, as the rod 2 8-is moved to the service position. f This arrangement also prevents lateral movement'of the conduit I from the service position, shown in Figure 2.

' Figures5 ai -d6 illustrate a modification of 1 my improved gasketrenewing means, where- I in the rod 28 instead ofbeing threa-dedto 'the sleeve "16,; is removably held thereinjbyfa bayonet joint comprising lugs 35 on the-rod and shouldersor dogs36 on therear end of the sleeve. 'By lifting the handle '3l 'to the horizontal plane, the lugs 35fvvill alignwith; the'elongated opening 37 in the sleeve 'Wher'eQ upjonthe-r'o'd- 28 maybe shifted rearwardly out of engagement with the conduit 10,-"t'h us'v V permitting the conduit, and gasket 12, to be'f removed, The reverse of this operationw-ill 're-a-sse'mble the parts.

While I have shown a ball-and socket type of universal jointfor permitting freemovement to the'coupli-ng head A, my improve- 7 ment may, of course, be-used withdifl'erent -o forms of universal joints such, for instance, as that shown in U.'-iS Patent #1,347,986 to M. A;Barber. I g I v 1' "What I' claim is: V

. 1, an-automatic train pipe coupling, the r combination of a coupling head 1 havingan opening therein, a support for said head'in I eluding abraeket, a tubular conduit extendcoupling head's" remain-coupleisaid means being operated from the rear of said bracket. 2-. In an automatic train pipe coupling, thecombination of a coupling head havlng an opening therein, a support for said-head in to support said conduit in'said opening and eludinga bracket, a tubular conduit extend-1 ing into the'opening in said head, and means to permit removalthereof from the opening while mated coupling heads remain coupled,

saidmeans being locatedon an axis substantially coincident to the axis of said opening and being operated from the rear of said a bracket.

3. In an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination of a coupllng head having an opening therein, a support for said head in eluding a bracket, a tubular conduit extend- -'ing into the opening in said head, and means to support said conduit in said opening and to permit removal thereof from the opening while mated coupling heads remain coupled,

said means comprisingan abutment operated from the rearof said bracket and adapted to be moved longitudinally into and out of en'-;

gagement with1 said conduit. I a 4. In an automatic train pipe coupling, the

opening therein, a supportv for said head including a bracket, a tubular. conduit extend-' a ing into the opening in saidhead, and means to support said conduit in said opening and.

to permit vremoval thereof from the opening lwhile mated coupling heads remain coupled,

said'meanscomprising an abutment operated from the rear'of said bracket and adapted to be shifted longitudinally into and outtof engagement with said conduit, said abutment having a tapered forward end adaptedto i enter a complementarily shaped bearing, on

the rear side of-saidconduit toposition the conduit relative to said open ng.

5., In an automatic train pipe coupling, the

combination-of a coupling head having an opening therein, a support for said head including a bracket, a tubular conduit extending into the'opening in said head, and means to support said conduit in said opening and to permit removal thereof fromthe opening while mated coupling heads remain coupled,

' said means comprising an abutment operated from thexre'ar of saidbracket' and adapted to be threadingly adjusted longitudinally of said support'into and out "of engagement -V with said conduit. 7

-combination of a coupling head provided v 6, V In an automatic train pipe coupling, the

with an opening and having also a rear wardly extending hollow-shank, a support for said head including a perforated bracket, a seat'for a springmounted onsa-id bracket having anopening therethroughpra tube extendingthrough said bracketvaii'd saidl seat into engagement. with said gshank, a coiled spring surrounding said'ttubefc-a'nd supported for rocking movement thereon, saidfseat at one endVb-y said sp'ring fseatland atw'thef other end by said shankpsaid springserving an opening and having also a rearwardlyem I tending hollow shank, a support forsaid head 7 including a perforated bracket, aseat for a I a spring mounted onsaid bracket oscillag tory movement, saidseat havingan opening I therethro'ugh, a tube extending throughsaid bracket and said seat intoengagement with said shank, a spring surrounding said +tube and supported'at one end by said springseat and at the other end by said shank,said spring serving to extend said couplingshead, aconduit extending into the opening in said cou pling head, and a rod extending from the rear side of said bracket forwardly through the; 'tube into supp'ortingrelation to'sa'idconduit, combinatlon of a coupling head having an said; rod being adjustable longitudinally in said conduit. 1 i I 8;; Inan automatic train pipe'coupling' the combination of a coupling head provided with an opening and having also'a rearwardly extending shank, a support for said headinsaid tube into and: out of "engagement with eluding a perforatedbracket, a seat; for a spring mounted on said bracket, said seat seat havingan openingtherethroiigh, a tube. extending throughsaid' bracket and, saidseat into rigid engagement with said shankysaid tube being provided with a radially extending projection adapted to engagethe rearsi'deof I said bracket to positionsaid coupling head relative to the bracket, a spring surrounding said tube andfsup'ported at one end by said spring seat and at the other end by said 7 shank, said springserving to extend said coupling head,a conduit extending in said shank and into the opening in said coupling head, a' rod mounted-in said tubeandishiftable'lon gitudinally therein toremovablysupport said conduit in said head and'shank, and means for maintaining said rQdldn the service, position. I ,0 r ,1

i 9, In anautomatic trainpipe'coupling, the" combination of acoupling head provided with: 'a hollow shank, a support for saidlheadineluding a perforated bracket having on its front face a part sphericalbearing, a spring seathaving a part-spherical: face m-Qunted'in I said bearingi toruniversal movement therein, 7 saidseat havingzan opening ,therethrough, a". g'tube extending-through saidbracketand-said HSQfit'ilIltO: engagement with said shank, the 'iE tube being? adjustable 1 longitudinally. inthe,

' Y shankv and having a radially extending produit to removablymaintain the latter in P0- .-sition=in saidshank. g -z "In:;-an automatic train} pipe couphng, Mth'e combination: of'a ,-coupling head provided i wit-h" a'h'ol-lowshank'and having also an opening,;asc'ondui't= extending into saidshank with its forward endsupportedin said opening, a suppont\for. said head-including a-bracket, a coiled-springinterposed between 'said head 'andii'bra'cket 'for' extending thehead, and a member-extending from within said spring winto'et'he. hollow of said shank-to force'said, conduihagainst saidhead, whereby the con- 3 duit is removably maintainedrin place.

' 11. Inianzautomatic train pipe coupling, thescomb-in'ation of. a perforated. coupling. "headthavingashank provided-withan open ing, 'a conduit extending into the perforation Jin!sa id head, a support "for 'said head includ [ing a perforated bracket, a: stem extending V through'the bracket into engagement. with iisaid shankya'rod. extending through the. i bracketand through the opening in said shank into engagement with said conduit, means to shift said rodlongitudinallypf said stem. into :and out of engagement with said conduit, means. to limit theextent of such shifting, .a'nd -meansto' maintain said rod in the shifted xposition. v t

y 12. lnanpautomatic train pipe coupling, the; combinationjiof a perforated coupling *Ehad-h'aving.aashank provided with an open-2 ing, arsu pport for said headinclud-ing a per forated "bracket, a conduit -extending into the-perforation in said :head,a tube;extend :ing through the bracket andconnected to said shank, a rearwardly extending outwardly l flaring-lug locatedonfthe rear; side of saidbracket, a projection. On Said tube co-acting -wwithsai'd-lugto prevent undue rotation of '::the coupling head about "its longitudinali: Maxis, and a rod extending through the bracket intohengagement:with said conduit to jremov v 2-rablyEYm-aintaintheconduit in the service po-g 'YCO:

13-. In an automatic train :pipe coupling,

the combination of a coupling head having a shank, a. spring engaging said-shank to sup-. mportthe head, .a-gasket carried at the-face of;- said head andmeans for removing said gasket'while sald head is coupled toja com-' xpamon li'ead, said-means including a member yin-y said sleeve torlongitudinal movement I adj ustably supported infsaid shank andi ex tendin' into-saidfspring w,

- 14;. n an automatic trainfpipe -couplih i.

gasket-- carried at theface of saidkhead, and

means for removing i said gasket f'Wihile said head. -is coupled to, a companion head,.,said means including-a. conduit, anda member ex, tending from within. said; spring through; the. rear wall .of-said shank into engagement with saidpconduit. f I

'- 15'.v In an automatic train pipe-coupling,

- the combination of acoupling .head having,

a shank, a coiled, spring-engagmgsaidshank" to support the head,- a gasketcarried atthe" face of said head, and means for removing said gasket while, saidhead is; coupledgto a" companion head, v said meansincluding. a

' sleevesecured to said shankand-arranged within said spring, and a member supported therein...

7 "-16. 111 an automatic the combination of a coupling head having a i shank provided with a rear;Wall,';a,springf engaging said; shank to support the head, a gasketrarnedjat the face of sa dhead, and means for IGIDOYlIlgsald gasket whilev S3,1d;;

the combination of a"coupling headjhaving a :shank provided with a rear wall," ajspring engaging said; shank; to support the head, v

head is coupled: :to: a companion-head, said."

-means including aiconduit, 'and;amember extending frcm within'sald spring through the rear wall otsaid shank into-engagement with saidfconduit to lock the. conduit: agains t lafiz:..,

eral movement relativeto saidshank; v i 17 In an; automatic train pipe coupling, the-combination of" a coupling head, a supjport' for: said head including aiuniversaljoint adapted to permit universalmovement to the 'head, a gasket carried at the face of said head, and mean's-to removesaid gasket while 7 said head is coupled-toe companion head, I

a said 1 means. including a member extending I through said universal-joint. Y

18. In an. automatic, train, pipe g the combination of a coupling head, afsupport he'ad,'and' means to removesaid gasket while said head is' coupled-to' a companion'rhead,

for said'head v-.including a-Juniversal joint adapted to permit'universal movementtolthe head, a gasket carried atiithe face .of...said, Ii.

said meansincluding a memberfextending through saiduniversal joint {and shi'ftable .longitudinallytherein; v traimpipecoupling, the combination of arcouplinghead, a ap-1 port for. said-head including a universal 19. In. an automatic j oint adapted. to permit universal movement ,to the head, a gasketcarried at thegface of said head, and: means togremovesaid gasket while saidheadj-is coupled'to a companion head, said means including a member, extend- ,i'ng throughsaid universal joint-andthre'ad- .ingly shiftablelongitudinally thereim -and a 139 device for maintaining said member in the shifted position.

20. In an automatic train pipe coupling, j

the Combination of a coupling head, a supconduit mounted in said coupling head in supporting relation to saidgasket, and a member extending through said universal joint into engagement with said conduit to removably maintain the latter in said cou pling head.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix signature. 1 n GEORGE E. BALDWIN- 

